Red Sox earn break

Fill-ins shine as grueling stretch ends with another win

Scott LauberThursday, May 24, 2012

Credit: Nick Wass

ALL SMILES: Kelly Shoppach (left), who hit a two-run homer in the sixth, celebrates with Alfredo Aceves, who got four outs to close the Red Sox’ 6-5 win against the Orioles yesterday in Baltimore, which got them back to .500.

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BALTIMORE — And on the 21st day, the Red Sox will rest.

At last.

First, though, there was one more game to play. Three weeks since they were last idle, the Red Sox concluded a run of 20 games in 20 days — the maximum number of consecutive days played allowed under the collective bargaining agreement — with a 6-5 victory against the Baltimore Orioles yesterday at muggy Camden Yards.

And the win followed a familiar script.

During the unforgiving stretch, the Red Sox posted an 11-9 record despite being besieged by injuries. For that, they can thank the timely contributions of unexpected reinforcements.

Right on cue, Daniel Nava and Scott Podsednik delivered.

Buried in the minors only a few weeks ago and called up to bolster a team that has seven outfielders on the disabled list, Nava and Podsednik launched solo homers, while backup catcher Kelly Shoppach added a two-run shot.

Raise your hand if you guessed that trio would lift the Red Sox back to .500 at 22-22.

“We had guys down, but our management has done a good job to get us guys who can come in, step in and do the job,” said first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, forced to move to right field because of the injuries. “Scottie got the game-winning home run today. Those things are huge. For us to be able to have another experienced guy out there is huge.”

How unlikely a hero was Podsednik?

Sent to Triple A by Philadelphia after spring training, the 10-year major league veteran was sold to the Sox on May 11 and called up Tuesday from Pawtucket when outfielders Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney went on the DL. He made his first major league start since Sept. 9, 2010, for the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit his first homer since Sept.â€‰6 of that season in the eighth inning to give the Red Sox a 6-4 lead.

“It’s good to be back in the big leagues,” Podsednik said. “I got a pitch up, an off-speed pitch up, and I put a pretty good swing on it.”

Chances are, Podsednik will continue to play center field when the Sox face a right-handed pitcher (Marlon Byrd figures to play against lefties). But when Sweeney returns from a concussion, likely by early next week, Podsednik knows his future might grow cloudy again.

“That kind of remains to be seen,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll be plugged in in different situations, so it’s up to me just to stay ready and come in and help the club wherever and whenever I’m needed.”

Nava had fallen so far on the Sox’ depth chart since hitting a grand slam on the first pitch of his major league career in 2010 that he wasn’t invited to big league camp this year. Bobby Valentine barely knew him during spring training. Now, the manager can’t take him out of the lineup.

And in the sixth inning, Nava busted a 2-2 tie by taking Orioles starter Jake Arrieta deep to right field. It marked his second homer in only 26 at-bats after he had gone 171 at-bats (and nearly two years) between homers.

“There’s not pressure for us to have to step in and be the guy because of our lineup and because of what they can do,” Nava said. “That allows you to play your game and not try to do too much. When you’re able to simplify it, you give yourself a better chance to succeed.”

But without Nava and Podsednik, the Red Sox wouldn’t have won their second consecutive series. Just ask Valentine.

“That top part of the lineup has been doing so much work in 20 days. They really were a little under the water,” Valentine said. “And the bottom third, (hitting coach) Dave Magadan just said, ‘Hey, let’s leave it to those guys. They’re going to do something.’ They did a lot.”